Resumo

DE LA VEGA, Gerardo J.  e  SCHILMAN, Pablo E.. The importance of physiology on insect geographical distribution. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2015, vol.74, n.3-4, pp.101-108. ISSN 0373-5680.

Finding an explanation to the distribution pattern of species is a main issue in ecology. There are many studies showing correlations between abiotic factors and latitude or altitude and species distribution. However, these approaches fail in providing causal relations and mechanisms involved in large scale pattern of species distribution. This article briefly introduces the field of macrophysiology, a new research area that was developed 10 to 15 years ago and combines macroecology with environmental physiology or ecophysiology. This new area allows approaching the question of species distribution patterns from a mechanistic point of view. Insects are an excellent model system to perform this kind of studies due to their world-wide distribution, easy laboratory breeding and handling to perform experiments. In particular, the macrophysiological approach would help improving predictions of actual and future species distribution in a changing world, including global warming, which it would be of great importance especially with invasive insects, pests or disease vectors.

Palavras-chave : Ecophysiology; Macrophysiology; Patterns of Geographical Distribution; Thermal Tolerances; Ecological Niche.

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